USDA Rural Development Deputy Under Secretary Cheryl Cook was in Phoenix last week and addressed Native American contractors regarding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) as well as the many programs Rural Development has to offer including the additional programs that came with the 2008 Farm Bill.

The conference focused on construction projects in Indian Country. Construction in Indian Country has always presented challenges and this conference was intended to help alleviate those problems and bring ideas to the table on how to: receive funding from the 2010 stimulus package, prove your construction project is shovel-ready, reduce the environmental impact of your project, comply with federal regulations and meet reporting requirements under the 2010 stimulus package.

“Recovery Act funds do not take the place of annual appropriations but go over and above normal allocations” Cook said. For more information on the Administration’s outreach to Tribes click here.

President Obama and USDA Rural Development are committed to serving rural Arizona and its 21 nationally recognized Indian Tribes/Nations.